Day 9: A Photo that I Took

 

I decided to share this photo, not because it's the "best picture ever" (because let's face it, it's not), but because I feel it's a little unexpected. This photo was taken in west Texas, and being an East Coaster, any time that I ever thought of Texas, I always pictured dry, brown, desert-like landscapes. (I realize that there a lot of places in Texas with lush green panoramic views, but we're talking all-the-way-to-the-edge-west-Texas here). What I didn't expect when I came to this small Texas town was how green it was. And how beautiful it is. (I find myself missing it when I look at these photos). Also unexpected, (for my initial impression of Texas) was that it snows there during the winter! Or at least it does where I was. 

Day 8: A Photo that Makes Me Angry/Sad

I cannot even begin to tell you how much it angers me that Gretchen won Project Runway! Seriously? Now, maybe I really don't know anything about fashion, but if her style is what is supposed to be happening in fashion next, as Nina Garcia and Michael Kors claim, then count me out!

Although Mondo's collection wasn't really my style either, I loved it, and I love him. He has quite a quirky personality that really shows in his designs. As far as creativity and originality go, I really think that he should have won. But alas, he did not.

Gretchen.

Eugh.

Day 7: A Photo that Makes Me Happy

 

This photo makes me happy because I enjoy autumn, and this was the only autumn-related photo that I could find that I had actually taken myself which did not have people in it. 

I love the colors of autumn and the smells and flavors! (That would be pumpkin, apples, and other yummy fall baked goods! Basically anything that might be sold as a Yankee Candle).

Day 6: 20 of My Favorite Things

In no particular order:

1. The color purple (the color, not the book).
2. Dancing (play me any kind of music and I will try to dance to it).
3. "Me" time.
4. Books (is there anything more relaxing than curling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of coffee? I think not).
5. The colors of Autumn (but only on the trees. I hate yellow, orange, and red on anything else).

(Source)

6. Chocolate, especially dark. And Death by Chocolate ice cream.
7. Snuggling with my babies.
8. Etsy.com.
9. Shoes, especially T-straps.

Christian Louboutin

10. Office and organizational supplies (I love buying them, I just never get around to using them).
11.Cheese
12. Country Boys (Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bently, etc. Nothing more delicious than a good looking man who can sing, and has a southern accent to boot!)

Hello, Tim.

13. Antiques.
14. Baking
15. The feeling of clean sheets on a freshly showered body.
16. Mr. Goodbar
17. Music that I can dance to.
18. Christmas (for the time spent with family, not the gifts).
19. Fashion from the 40s and 50s.

20. The one that got away. A story for another day...

Day 5: My Favorite Quote

 I wanted to include several of my favorite quotes from movies that I have seen, books that I have read, or have come across in the every day, but I have misplaced my reading notebook! (This would be a notebook that I keep by me as I'm reading in case I come across anything that I want to remember or look up later).

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes that I could remember off the top of my head:

"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was." 
*I don't know where this quote came from originally, but it has been one that has always stuck in my mind. Check out this page for humorous variations.


"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago. Dare not say that a man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant." - Jane Austen, Persuasion, Ch. 23 
*Really, what woman wouldn't want to hear a man say this her? Especially one that she has been pining after for eight years!


"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Ch. 1 
*This one just makes me laugh.

The other ones that I had were much better, more insightful and able to inspire discussion. I'm going to have to do a better job in keeping up with these daily posts and remembering to write them before 11:30 at night!

Day 4: My Favorite Book

My favorite book..... This is a tough one because I love to read and have read hundreds, if not a thousand, of books.

I really enjoyed Jane Austen's Persuasion. I suppose the reason is because the story relates so well to my own life. The story in a nutshell (because it's 11:40 and I'm tired): Anne Elliot meets Frederick Wentworth and they fall in love. Her family does not approve because he does not have money. She ends things with him. Eight years later, they happen to cross paths again. He still holds a grudge, she is still in love. A series of events occur that lead to a happy ending for all.

I'm really not doing the story any justice, but I want to get this posted before midnight so I don't fail at this daily post challenge. :-)

Another favorite book was Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. It's a really long read (1300+ pages, depending on the version). But it's worth it.

I will probably come back to edit this post later because there was a lot more that I wanted to praise about these novels.. Right now I have no followers, so no one will be the wiser. :-)

Day 3: My Favorite TV Show

Easy peasy. Hands down, my all-time favorite TV show is LOST.

Or at least it was. But of course, now it is no longer on the air, so I suppose I need to pick a different show, something that I currently watch and hate to miss.

There are two shows on right now that I rarely miss an episode of. The first is How I Met Your Mother. It's on CBS. Monday nights at 8. And if you aren't already watching this show, then you should be. If for no other reason than this guy:

“That was the night I was born. I rose like a phoenix from her mentholated bosom and strode into the world, Armani-clad and fully awesome.”

Without Barney, (and Marshall and Lilly too), the show would pretty much suck. I have given up on any hope of actually ever meeting Ted's future wife (a.k.a. "Your Mother") and now tune into the show to keep up with Barney's antics and one-liners.

The other show that I am now obsessed with is Sons of Anarchy. (Tuesday nights at 10 on FX). I will admit that I only started watching this show this season. I had no interest in watching the first or second season. However, now I wish that I had. I happened to catch the first episode this season and I was hooked. Not only are the story-lines intriguing, but the acting is great as well. Oh yeah. And there's this guy:

Can I get a ride?

'Nuff said.

Day 2: My Favorite Movie

This post may be a bit of a "cheat", as I do not have a "hands down" favorite movie. I enjoy period pieces, or historical fiction, or movies based on books. But I also enjoy the occasional action movie, comedy, or drama. Musicals and romantic comedies are also contenders. I would say that my taste in movies is pretty consistent with my music preferences.

Here are a few of my favorite "Go To" movies, movies that I will watch multiple times and never get sick of.

Cold Mountain- Based on the book by Charles Frazier. I watched the movie before reading the book, and ended up liking the book better, but I still thoroughly enjoy this movie. I bawled my eyes out the first time I watched it, (but not as much as when I first saw Legends of the Fall!). One of my favorite movie quotes is the line that Nicole Kidman speaks at the end of the trailer. Renee Zellwegger does a great job with her character, and even though he doesn't have very many lines, Jude Law is a definite plus to this movie!





The Count of Monte Cristo- This one is also based on a novel, by Alexandre Dumas, (pere). The book weaves a story of patience, deceit, justice, and revenge so carefully planned out and so complicated, that the movie fails to develop. But while the novel is a thousand times better than the movie, the movie is worth watching itself, especially for those who shy away from books with 1300+ pages! AND it has the original Dumbledore in it!






My third "Go To" movie is Just Like Heaven starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. As a rule, I generally like any movie starring Reese (with the exception of her desperately failed attempt as an "innocent" temptress in Vanity Fair). I love this movie. I love Reese. I love her style. I love her apartment in this movie. The relationship between the main characters is adorable, as is Mark Ruffalo.





And last, but not least, is Chicago. This movie is so much fun and entertaining. I don't know how anyone could NOT like this movie. And what a surprise it was to see how well these well-known actors can perform! Especially Richard Gere. Who would've thought? Rene Zellwegger and Catherine Zeta Jones have such different styles of performing, but both pull it off so well that they are both really enjoyable to watch.





And now that I've just watched this trailer, I have to go watch this movie again!

Day 1: My Favorite Song

Okay, this is going to be a little more difficult than I had anticipated.

I don't really have a favorite song per se. I have favorite artists, but not specific songs. Most of the songs that I like are usually a temporary fave based on what I am feeling, or what is going on in my life at the time. They are constantly changing. Some days I prefer pop. Other days I prefer country or hip hop.Or alternative rock. Or Indie. Or heavy metal.

Okay, you got me on that one. I don't actually like heavy metal, but you get the idea.

Right now I'm kind of feeling A Fine Frenzy and one of my fave songs is "Happier". Please enjoy.




A Fine Frenzy - Happier
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Also, how great is this video? I like the reveal of the story behind the photos. I have always felt that most photos are staged, or you never really know what's going on behind the scenes, or within the person. I think that most portraits should have the caption, "And they all put on a really good show". And wouldn't it be great if we could all move exes out of the house that effortlessly? It sure would save a lot of trouble!

Let's Get this Party Started!

Okay, to get this blog rolling, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and participate in this little "meme" (what the hell is a "meme"?) that I came across at cbs111's blog. It's called 30 Days of Me and obviously, the idea is to post something about myself every day for thirty days. This seemed to be an appropriate way to introduce you to my blog (and since I currently have 0 followers, hopefully I can make this entertaining enough to lure you all in).

Day 1 – your favorite song
Day 2 – your favorite movie
Day 3 – your favorite television program
Day 4 – your favorite book
Day 5 – your favorite quote
Day 6 – 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 – a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 – a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 – a photo you took
Day 10 – a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 – a photo of you recently
Day 12 – something you are OCD about
Day 13 – a fictional book
Day 14 – a non-fictional book
Day 15 – your dream house
Day 16 – a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 – an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 – your wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 – a talent of yours
Day 20 – a hobby of yours
Day 21 – a recipe
Day 22 – a website
Day 23 – a youtube video
Day 24 – where I live
Day 25 – your day, in great detail
Day 26 – your week, in great detail
Day 27 – my worst habit
Day 28 – what’s in my handbag/purse
Day 29 – hopes,dreams, plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 – a dream for the future beyond the next year

My 30 days begins...........Now!

Actually, no it doesn't. I will start this tomorrow. (I'm a big procrastinator).